| Traveling in a ghat-road is some what a daunting | | | | gathered its momentum. We saw a wooden |
| task. On a fine weekday a team of six guys | | | | bridge that connected the two landscape |
| planned for a trip to Valparai. We started in the | | | | separated by the flowing stream. The wooden |
| early dawn. The place is 100kms from the | | | | bridge was built in the old fashioned manner and I |
| Coimbatore city. So we started in the early dawn | | | | had a guess that it could be 20+ years old. The |
| from the city in our bikes. We had a hot sip of | | | | wooden floor was in a bad shape and we stepped |
| coffee in a small shop near Pollachi. From there | | | | one by one with great caution. We got a |
| we began our journey in to the narrow road that | | | | spectacular view of the flowing stream which was |
| stretched a long way to our destination. The place | | | | just 10mts away from the bridge. After a big |
| was fantastic and we started feeling the dawn. | | | | struggle we managed to get there. We drenched |
| We came to the check post were we got the | | | | our self in the cool running stream of water. |
| pass to enter since the place is a wild life reserve | | | | Actually the real water fall was 20ft high and is |
| maintained by Indra Gandhi Wild life sanctuary. | | | | some few yards away from the actual spot. The |
| Unfortunately the horn in the bike in which I was | | | | splendid view of the surroundings still flashes in |
| traveling failed to work. The hill nearly had 50+ | | | | my mind. The pensive of all the cherishing |
| hair-pin bend which was very steep and | | | | moments will last forever. We recorded some |
| dangerous next to Kolli hills. It was really difficult | | | | video clips too. |
| to ride without the horn. So, I trailed my friend's | | | | The place is said to be the death trap for many |
| bike. We crossed another fantastic spot | | | | people and frequent deaths were reported due to |
| "Attakatti". Noted for its world famous | | | | the sudden flooding and death swirls. More |
| Kadambarai power station, the place was the | | | | causality has been reported due to the |
| perfect location for site seeing. The cold breeze | | | | man-eaters in the locality. So the trip has to be |
| kept my body freezing. Our first pit-stop was | | | | planned with at most care and concern. From |
| near a place called 'water falls'. We had a small | | | | there we planned to visit Neerar dam that was |
| break near the cool place. We were cautioned by | | | | 15kms away. So, we started form there and we |
| some the passerby riders who were descending | | | | nearly descended four hills down. The path went |
| the hill track. | | | | over and over and we really felt exhausted |
| They warned us about the elephant's threat | | | | before reaching the dam. But our efforts never |
| during the journey. With a surge of panic we | | | | went on vain. It was a huge dam. |
| started then. We crossed many streams which | | | | The dam stores the water from the local |
| gave a visual treat to the eyes. We crossed | | | | waterfalls and stream. It was awesome really and |
| nearly 50+ hair-pin bends to reach the apex. | | | | the panoramic view was a nice feast to my |
| 5kms before the main spot, we saw a diversion | | | | camera. We explored some prohibited areas of |
| that leads to the famous Sri Balaji Temple but we | | | | the dam too. Since there was no one to warn us |
| dint stop there. We reached the terminus. We had | | | | at that moment, we took that opportunity and |
| our break-fast in a local hotel and asked the hotel | | | | took some rare pictures. After spending few |
| owner about the possible site seeing spots around | | | | minutes, we started moving from that spot. It |
| the locality. To our surprise all the scenic spots | | | | took an hour to travel back to the place were |
| were hardly 10kms far from the terminus. We | | | | we had started our trip. We had our lunch in a |
| thought it might not be possible to cover all the | | | | nice hotel. So we started descending the hill. |
| locations. Somehow we managed to spot the | | | | After few hours of our journey we came to a |
| location. We finally decided to visit an abandoned | | | | spot were we saw a fantastic falls flowing with |
| waterfall located 15kms away. To our surprise we | | | | tremendous velocity. The place was some |
| came to know that there exists a small dam | | | | 2-3kms before the Monkey falls. There was no |
| across the waterfalls. We managed to reach the | | | | proper way to reach the falls. Yet we climbed |
| deserted dried up dam. | | | | some tree branches and reached the center of |
| No road was seen after that spot. We saw only | | | | the waterfall. It was like an archipelago. The view |
| the footpath and we drove our bikes amidst the | | | | was breath taking and we took some nice snap |
| rugged path and slippery rocks. We came to the | | | | shots. We passed by the Monkey falls, and we |
| dead end. We parked our bikes in a tree shade. | | | | didn't find much flow in the falls. So we turned |
| The lush green verdure of the surroundings | | | | back. On the way we dropped near the Aliyar |
| captivated our eyes. We saw some rare species | | | | dam. The dam was a fantastic picnic spot. |
| of Lion tailed monkeys in the huge trees. | | | | Though we already felt exhausted yet we |
| We came down trough a narrow steel bridge. The | | | | managed to climb the 1000 foot steps and |
| gushing sound of the waterfalls started buzzing | | | | reached the top of the dam. We had some |
| from a distance. We enquired the local people | | | | relaxing moments in the long road of the dam |
| about the falls and locality. They warned us that | | | | roof. We started the journey then and returned |
| the area is being haunted by a male elephant. So | | | | to the hostel that night. We traveled nearly |
| they cautioned us not to move further. We dint | | | | 300Kms in a single day. We missed many spots |
| mind their words and started moving further. It | | | | because of lack of time and proper plan. If you |
| was a narrow path with thorny bushes on both | | | | really want to chill out your life and want a real |
| the sides. | | | | break from your routine? You can make Valpari |
| We could smell the fresh dropping of the giant | | | | all yours. Make a clever plan and enjoy the green |
| beast in our foot path. As we approached deep in | | | | beauty for life time. The nostalgia will make your |
| to the forest, the buzzing noise of the stream | | | | life sweet for sure. |